Retort discharge mechanism



Sept 29, 1942- F. J. wEsT EAL Y 2,296,965

` RETORT DI S CHARGE MECHAN I SM Sept 29, 1942. F. J. wEsT Erm.

RET-ORT DISCHARGE MECHANISM 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. so, 1941- Sept. 29, 1942. F. J..wEsT vLT1' A1. 2,296,965

RETORT DISCHARGE -MCHANISM Filed Aug: 3o, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 3 Patented Sept. 29, 1942 2,296,965 n RETORT DISCHARGE MECHANISM Frederick Joseph West andr Ernest West, Miles Platting, Manchester, England, assignors to Wests Gas Improvement Company Limited, Manchester, England, a British company Application August 3o, 1941, serialNo. 499,983. In GreatBritain September 14, 1940 2 Claims. (Cl. 214-35) This invention relates to intermittently operating vertical retorts for the distillation of icarbonaceous materials such as coal, shale and the like, and has for its object to provide improved means for supporting the charge in the retort and separating such charge from the coke being discharged.

Referring to the accompanying explanatory drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on the line l-l of Figure 2 and Figure 2 a sectional plan on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing charge supporting means constructed and arranged in one convenient form in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 shows a portion of what is shown in Figure 2 drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a rplan View, Figure 6 a side elevation and Figure 7 a sectional View on the line 1 1 of Figure 5 showing the details of a charge gripping and supporting finger.

. In Figure 1, a indicates the lower portion of the vertical retort in which icanbonisation is effected, and b the coke chamber into which discharge from the retort takes place. Between a and b is arranged the metal framework c in which are supported and operated the hook like or pointed lingers d which when in their service positions support the charge in the retort and when withdrawn allow discharge to take place from the retort to the coke `chamber beneath. The framework c provides a series of brackets e at each side of the through space of the retort upon which are supported rails f, the latter being located by raised ribs g on the brackets which enter grooves in the base of the rails, and by the vertical faces h on the brackets. Each rail f has Ia series of holes i therein to receive depending .plug like projections :i on the undersides of the fingers d, such holes and plugs forming the fulcrum or swivel points of the fingers. The oscillating movements of the fingers are effected by bars k which have depending plug like projections 'm thereon which enter holes 'n in the iingers. One end of each bar lc is coupled by links o to a rod p which extends through a stuffing box q in the end cover 1 of the framework c and is coupled to suitable operating means, not shown.

The iingers d are shaped with a .pointed end s which is adapted to bite into the coke mass which descends :from the retort proper a to the coke ,chamber so as to grip the mass after the predetermined amount of coke has been allowed to passante and su the coke chamber. The leadingY edge of each ngeris Wedge shaped or bevelled as shown :at t. in Figure 7 in order to assist in se- .curing a ready entry of the fin-ger into the-coke. Each finger is cut away at u, see Figures 5 and 6, to accommodate a portion of an adjacent nger when the ngers are nested together in their outof-service or withdrawn .position as shown at the right hand side of Figures 3 and 4. It will of course be appreciated that the fingers at iboth sides of the retort are moved simultaneously into their service and out-of-service positions, but in Figures 3 and 4, the lingers at one side are shown in service and at the other side out of service.

If it be desired to withdraw the fingers from the framework c for inspection or renewal purposes, this can readily be done by removing the end covers r (see Figures 1 and 2) vand pulling out the rails f and bars k which will bring the ngers with them. The rails land bars k may be made in sections which can be dismantled as withdrawal from the framework takes place. This reduces the clearance necessary in front of the covers r for the withdrawal of the rails f and ibars k.

It will be appreciated from a consideration of Figures 2, 3 and 4 which show the fingers d in their service positions, that the two rows of iingers do not come close together in order to support the charge in the retort. They bite into the opposite sides of the charge (which at this point is completely carbonised) for a short distance and key themselves in the coke mass. Thus in a retort which is about ll/g inches wide, that is the vertical dimension in Figure 2, there may be a distance of not more than 8 inches, between the ends of the lingers, i. e. the distance X in Figure 2, but the keying of the fingers into the mass, ensures that it is effectively supported. When a discharge from the retort a into the coke chamber b is to take place, the fingers are withdrawn by a suitable movement of the bars Ic. After the charge thus released has dropped to the extent necessary to ll the coke chamber, it comes to rest and the ngers are then forced outwards towards one another by a reverse movement of the bars lc, in order to grip the charge in the manner previously described and prevent further descent of that portion of it in the retort above them, while the contents of the coke cham- I ber below them are discharged (either immediately or after an interval of time) through a suitable door (not shown) at the base thereof.

With our improvement we are enabled to support the charge in the retort and separate it from the coke in the coke chamber with the expenditure of but a small amount o power as the fingers are readily operated, have not to cui: through the coke mass, and are not heavy devices such as are frequently employed to support retort charges.

What we claim is:

1. Means for supportingtthe charge in a vertical retort for the carbonisation of coal and the' like, comprising,Y in combination, rails extending along two opposite sides of and "supported be neath the retort, a series of hook like fingers fnl.-

crumed in said raus on vermaak-micras bars. ex-f tending parallel with the railsiand pivotallyconenected with the lingers fulcrumed in 'said`ra1s,

2. Means for supporting the charge in a vertical retort for the carbonisation of coal and the 1ike,'comprising in combination, a metal framework disposed beneath the retort, brackets along two opposite sides of said framework providing aligned horizontal surfaces beneath and at two opposite` sides of the ret0rt, a raill carried upon each series of aligned horizontal surfaces and held against lateral relative movements thereto by cooperating ribs and grooves, a series of vertical sockets in each rail, two series of hook like fingers with plugs projecting from their undersides which enter-the sockets in the rails, bars and means for moving said bars. longitudinally in y one direction to turn said fingers andcause theri leading pointed ends to penetrate for a short dis- 1 tance only into the coke mass at the baseert-heIV retort in which they become keyedrandso-hold.

up andlsupport the charge inthe retort andin, an opposite direction "to wthdra'wvthevngers clear Vof the'` cokemass to permtqcoke to drop from the retort.

` withdrawn.

extending parallel with the rails above the 1ingers andpivotally' connected to the latter by plug and socket connections, means for moving said barsto alimitledY extent only back and forth in order to Vturn the fingers about their fulcra in the rai1sand a cover on one end of the framework through which the rails, lingers and bars can be Y ria-nDERIVCKL JOSEPH WEST;

nremts'r WEST. 

